Tasty and Healthy Halloween Treats That Make Candy Seem Boring
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Time to Read: 8 min
Yes, for a lot of kids (and adults) Halloween is just about candy. Let's acknowledge that elephant in the room straight away. When you get older, you start to appreciate the other fun things about the spooky season that doesn't always occur to us when we're children. Costumes, spooky decorations, trick or treating -- they're all part of a big celebration of harvest season and lets us connect with the darker sides of life. It's not until you're a grown adult that you understand how the real spooky character that we should all be a little afraid of is the sugar!
As a pediatrician (and yep, also a mom!), though, I’ve definitely seen the downside of all that candy: sleepless nights, sugar crashes, and cranky kids bouncing off walls. It's enough to honestly make any parent think we should cancel the whole thing, right?
Here’s the thing, though: what if we could keep the fun of Halloween without drowning in sugar? What if we made treats that are healthy, tasty, and still carry that spooky Halloween vibe? These healthy Halloween treats are exactly that. Your little monsters won’t even notice the candy’s missing because they’re that good.
Monster-approved meals, potions, and creepy snacks—we’ve got it all. Whip up some healthy Halloween fun, and serve it in our fun and colorful stainless steel plates, bowls, and cups. Trust me... your kids (and their dentist) will thank you.
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Not All Sugar is Created Equal
I might be giving sugar a hard time, so let me clear things up. It’s true that too much sugar can cause issues with our health, our bodies actually need glucose (a type of sugar) to keep us going—so having a little here and there isn’t all bad.
Pick the right kind of sugar—that’s the key. "Added sugar" is what they put in candy, cookies, and soda. It gets tossed into food during cooking or processing. It gives you calories but not much else, no real nutrients. You probably already know that it’s super easy to overdo it and this goes double or triple during Halloween.
Fruit, dairy, and veggies all have sugar in them naturally. They have varying degrees of other great stuff like minerals, fiber, and vitamins. Fiber and complex carbohydrates are especially good at slowing down sugar absorption. An apple and a lollipop both have sugar, true, but they’re not the same at all.
This Halloween, focus on treats that mix sweetness with nutrition. Show the kids healthy food can be fun and festive too!
Spooky Snacks
Mummy Pizzas
These little mummy pizzas? Absolute screamers! Get some English muffins, pita bread(whole wheat, if you can get them), or tortillas to kick things off. Spread a bit of tomato sauce on there, then put a little shredded mozzarella (or your favorite non-dairy cheese substitute) on top. The mummy look comes from thin strips of low-fat string cheese, which is kinda genius, honestly. Pop on two olive slices for eyes, and bake 'em until that cheese gets all melty and gooey. It's a fun, super easy way to get the kids messing around in the kitchen—and they'll love these at any Halloween shindig.
Spider Deviled Eggs
Deviled eggs just got way creepier...but also tastier? Prepare your usual deviled eggs, but here’s the twist: use a black olive cut in half for the spider’s body. Then, slice the other half into thin little strips for the legs. Lay those legs on the egg whites and place the olive body right on top. Boom, you've got a spooky, protein-packed snack. And hey, if you still have a bunch of hard-boiled eggs lying around from Easter (because that happens?), now you know what to do with them.
Jack-o'-Lantern Veggie Tray
This one's not just spooky—it's actually healthy, so double win! Take a bunch of colorful veggies—like carrots, bell peppers, celery, cucumbers—and arrange 'em in the shape of a jack-o'-lantern. For the face, you can use hummus or guacamole as the dip for the eyes and mouth. It looks cool on the table and might even get your kids excited about eating their vegetables for once.
Monster Meals
Eyeball Pasta Salad
Your little monsters will love this pasta salad! Cook their pasta of choice (again, try to use whole wheat if you can get it!), but you can use whatever your kids like. Toss the cooked (and cooled) pasta with bite-sized chopped vegetables -- cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, bell peppers, that kind of thing. I promised spooky, so here it is: take some cheese balls (good old mozzarella works best), then make them eyeballs with an olive slice in the middle. Some dressing or a light vinaigrette drizzled on top keeps everything together. Now you're ready for the Halloween potluck.
Speaking of potlucks, the steel to-go container we call The Square here at Ahimsa is perfect for transporting your delectables wherever you need to take them. And I recommend the Square’s round cousin, the Circle Trio, for any other food transportation or storage needs.
Franken-wiches
These monster sandwiches are scary good! Use whole-wheat bread or wraps, and fill them with healthy options like turkey, ham, cheese, lettuce, or tomatoes—whatever your family enjoys. Get creative by using cookie cutters to shape the sandwiches into spooky figures like ghosts, bats, or pumpkins. Add pretzel sticks for arms and legs, and use olives for eyes to take them to the next level. Healthy eating gets a lot more fun with these Franken-wiches.
Boo-nana Ghosts
Almost too cute to eat, these little banana ghosts! Peel a banana, then cut it in half lengthwise. Use chocolate chips for the eyes and mouth—easy, right? It’s a sneaky way to get more fruit into your kids' bellies. Even the smallest monsters can help out with this one, which makes it a super simple treat to whip up.
Snacktime Essentials
Bewitched Beverages
Vampire Blood Smoothie
Any vampire’s thirst gets taken care of with this blood-red smoothie! Toss in some milk or yogurt—or swap in oat or almond milk if that’s your thing—along with frozen strawberries, raspberries, and a banana. Honestly, use whatever fruit you’ve got lying around. Blend it up til it’s smooth (you know, like a smoothie should be). Add a little honey or maple syrup if you want it sweeter, but it’s probably sweet enough already. Antioxidants, vitamins, and all those good-for-yous hitch a ride on the soft sweetness of the blended stuff.
Polyjuice Potion
Pretend this potion will turn you into any magical creature you want! Toss some spinach, green grapes, pineapple chunks, and a squeeze of lime juice into the blender. Don’t forget my recommendation for an easy frozen spinach hack in my recipe blog. Blend until smooth, then pour into glasses and top with a sprig of mint for that extra fancy touch.
Witches' Brew
Perfect for a Halloween party, this bubbly brew brings the spookies! Mix sparkling apple cider and cranberry juice in a pitcher with slices of orange and lime. Want to make it a bit creepier? Toss in a few gummy worms or candy eyeballs for fun.
A Healthy & Happy Halloween
Remember, Halloween doesn't have to be all about candy and sugar crashes. With a little creativity, you can create treats that are both spooky and nutritious. Get the kids involved in the kitchen and let them help you whip up some of these fun and festive recipes.
And if you're looking for more inspiration, check out our Mealtime Guide for even more healthy and delicious ideas. Let's make this Halloween a happy and healthy one for everyone!
Dr. Manasa Mantravadi
Dr. Manasa Mantravadi is a board-certified pediatrician whose dedication to children’s health drove her to launch Ahimsa, the world's first colorful stainless steel dishes for kids. She was motivated by the American Academy of Pediatrics’ findings on harmful chemicals in plastic affecting children's well-being. Ahimsa has gained widespread recognition and been featured in media outlets such as Parents Magazine, the Today Show, The Oprah Magazine, and more.
Dr. Mantravadi received the esteemed “Physician Mentor of the Year” award at Indiana University School of Medicine in 2019. She was also named a Forbes Next 1000 Entrepreneur in 2021, with her inspiring story showcased on Good Morning America. She serves on the Council for Environmental Health and Climate Change and the Council for School Health at The American Academy of Pediatrics. She represents Ahimsa as a U.S. industry stakeholder on the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) for the Global Plastics Treaty, led by the United Nations Environment Program. Dr. Mantravadi leads Ahimsa's social impact program, The Conscious Cafeteria Project, to reduce carbon emissions and safeguard student health as part of a national pilot of the Clinton Global Initiative.
She is dedicated to educating and empowering people to make healthier, more environmentally friendly choices at mealtime. Her mission remains to advocate for the health of all children and the one planet we will leave behind for them through real policy change within our food system.
More Snacktime Essentials
Frequently Asked Questions
Why should I use stainless steel instead of plastic? Is stainless steel better for health?
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) released a report in July 2018 suggesting ways that families can limit exposure to certain chemicals at mealtime, including “the use of alternatives to plastic, such as glass or stainless steel, when possible.” The report explained that “…some additives are put directly in foods, while “indirect” additives may include chemicals from plastic, glues, dyes, paper, cardboard”. Further, “Children are more sensitive to chemical exposures because they eat and drink more, relative to body weight, than adults do, and are still growing and developing.” While stainless steel items meet the recommendation to avoid plastic products in children, Ahimsa® products have the obvious advantage of not breaking like glass.
Is stainless steel better for the environment than plastic?
According to the Steel Recycling Institute, steel can be recycled over and over and over again without losing its integrity and requires less energy to recycle than to make anew. Most plastic unfortunately ends up in landfills and it is estimated to take 700 years to decompose. Our special coloring process that allows Ahimsa® products to be fully metal is environmentally friendly, so it does not produce toxic run-off into the ecosystem.
Will Ahimsa products break or peel?
No. Our steel is durable, so it won’t break or shatter with everyday use, like glass. And it won’t peel, like other colored stainless steel products you’ve seen. We use a special process that allows the colors to naturally occur in the metal.
Which Ahimsa products are best for my little one(s)?
Our products are meant to last, you can use Ahimsa at ages 1, 8 and 18! We thoughtfully design our products to be safe for little ones and our planet while reducing consumption. Once your child outgrows the Starting Solids Set and can use regular cups and utensils, the training cup is the perfect size rinse cup in the bathroom, the infant spoon doubles as a tea stirrer and the bowl is great for snacks or as an additional compartment to our modular divided plate. Our plates are great for any age as they encourage choosing a variety of healthy foods at each meal and help visualize portion sizes easily. It’s the lasting beauty of stainless steel - grows with your child and reduces waste.
